Bill would allow individuals to safely important cheaper prescription drugs from Canada, creating major savings for consumers and bringing greater competition into the pharmaceutical market
In 2012, average prescription drug prices were twice as expensive in the United States as they were in Canada, with high costs leading some Americans to skip doses or forgo filling important prescriptions altogether
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John McCain (R-AZ) introduced bipartisan drug importation legislation to help reduce the costs of prescription drugs for American families. The Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act would allow individuals to safely import prescription drugs from Canada, creating major savings for consumers and bringing greater competition into the pharmaceutical market. In 2012, average prescription drug prices were twice as expensive in the United States as they were in Canada, with high costs leading some Americans to skip doses or forgo filling important prescriptions altogether.
“In Minnesota, we know that Canadians often pay much less for their prescription drugs, but current law prevents Americans from importing these cheaper alternatives and benefitting from these savings,” Klobuchar said. “This bipartisan bill would make a commonsense fix and allow individuals to import safe, low-cost prescription drugs from Canada, injecting new competition into the U.S. pharmaceutical market and bringing down costs for families.”
“I have long believed that prescription drugs ought to be affordable for all Americans,” said Senator John McCain. “This legislation would allow individuals to safely import prescription drugs into the United States from our neighbors to the north, potentially saving individual Americans hundreds of dollars a year.”
The Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act would allow individuals to safely import into the United States a personal supply of prescription drugs. Under the legislation, imported prescription drugs would have to be purchased from an approved Canadian pharmacy and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. Drugs imported under this bill would be the same dosage, form, and potency as drugs in the U.S., but at a significant savings to U.S. consumers. The U.S. spent a total of more than $260 billion on prescription drugs in 2012 alone, and we spend an average of almost $1,000 per person per year on pharmaceuticals – roughly 40 percent more than the next highest country.
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